Britain’s smallest castle is for sale; it comes with 10 acres, a 44 million gallon moat and a narrow boat
Last marketed in 2003 for £1 million (the equivalent of £1.45 million, $1.86 million, €1.73 million or درهم6.83 million today), what is allegedly Britain’s smallest castle is back for sale for the slightly higher sum of £1.75 million ($2.24 million, €2.09 million or درهم8.24 million).
Offered by Belgravia based Henry & James, Starborough Castle is situated on the border of Kent and Surrey and stands in 10 acres of moated gardens and grounds. It is listed Grade II* and also as a scheduled ancient monument.
Dating to around 1754 and constructed on the site of a medieval house built circa 1341, the current dressed stone Neo-Gothic building on the site was restored by a farmer in the 1980s. He sold it to a purveyor of antique maps named Warwick Leadlay (1929 – 2013) in 1995 and in the years since, the grounds were landscaped and outbuildings and a cottage added.
Used by the Leadley family to host a “Glyndebourne of jazz-style” festival and more recently available for both short and long-term lets, Starborough Castle itself currently provides a total of 1,959 square foot of accommodation. There is a mini great hall, minstrel gallery kitchen, two double bedrooms and a bathroom in the main house and a detached one bedroom cottage offers further space for guests.
Of the pint-sized property, James Bailey of Henry & James told the Mail Online:
“It’s an amazing property, a complete one off, and a house of historical importance. The first recorded settlement was there in AD490. The moat was created around the medieval castle that occupied the entire island in the 1300s. That was torn down under Cromwell’s orders in the 1600s”.
“What is there now takes up just a small part of the island, it was built as a summerhouse and you could argue over whether it’s a folly or a castle”.
“It would be a perfect weekend destination place for a professional couple or an individual looking for something unique. The current owners have had it about 20 years and that’s what they have used it for, but they are based in London again now so don’t get to use it much”.
“They also put a barge on the moat to provide extra guest space. It’s a bit of fun, obviously you could only drive it in a circle round the moat, you can’t go anywhere”.
How quaint and pretty. I would worry about their being lots of rats though with all that water.
Ethel
As long as you don’t go swimming you should be fine
The price seems fair but it is very, very small. The second bedroom is tiny and the bathroom is a cupboard (with a huge tub by the look of it). If it could in any way be extended, it would really help and I am certain something sympathetic could be built. A lovely retreat just an hour from London.
What a hovel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Knock it down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Build something modern and comfortable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That kitchen is ridiculous, ridiculous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A fun place and it sounds like the late owner was a very fun man. He even had a humanist funeral. Bonkers.